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NOTTINGHAM ZIMBABWE COMMUNITY NETWORK (NZCN) was formed on 5 March 2008. It is a brain child of Regis Manyanya (The Founder Chairman), who after realising that Zimbabweans living in Nottingham were scattered all over the city and were not aware that Nottngham was twinned with Harare, he decided to bring these people together, he visited The Refugee Forum where with the help of the refugee forum staff came up with the idea of the Zimbabwe Community group. NZCN pioneers were Innocent Chirawu,Wilson Nyakumbi, Nicholas Shiri, Richard Mupomwa, Simbarashe Dziruni, Albert Mandebvu, Edward Mombeyarara, Angeline Ishemunyoro, Patience Muparadzi, Arnold Mukungatu, Faith Mujati, Tongesai Shangwa, Stembile Mujati, Wynnet Jewure,and Timothy Takaidza. Many thanks to Bill Walton, Stuart Brown from The Forum, Claire from the No Borders, Angela Mckenzie from the Indymedia, as well as any others who due space limitations cannot be mentioned by name yet they were and are still very intrumental in the NZCN’s success story.

Members of the First Committee who signed for the adoption of the Constitution on Friday 18 April 2008 (their signatures are at the bottom of the aforesaid doc.)

The 2nd Demo: 18 April 2008 -Was based on the delayed ZW’s Election results

Theme: (1) ‘Mugabe Must Announce the Election results’
(2) ‘No to Forced Removals to Zimbabwe’
(3) Call on International Community to Intervene in ZW crisis
(clickhere for pictures)

The 2nd Demo: 18 April 2008 -Was based on the delayed ZW’s Election results
Theme: (1) ‘Mugabe Must Announce the Election results’
(2) ‘No to Forced Removals to Zimbabwe’
(clickhere for pictures)

The 3rd Demo: 27 June 2008 -Was based on Mugabe’s shameful ‘Runoff Election’
Theme: (1) ‘Mugabe doctored/tampered with the Election results’
(2) The Pen is Mightier than the Sword
(3) ‘Mugabe Must Go’
(click here for pictures)

The 4th Demo: 11 July 2008 – Combined Protest/Demo in London led by the Anglican
Archbishop of Yorkshire Rev. John Sentamu.
Theme: (1) ‘The UK government should STOP deporting Zimbabweans’
(2) ‘Zimbabwean asylum seekers/failed asylum seekers should be allowed to work in the UK’
(clickhere for pictures)

Birth of a political party branch: 30 August 2008 – The NZCN members gathered
together and helped to form the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) party Nottingham branch and some of the
NZCN’s members were grafted into the MDC Notts Branch
Committee
(clickhere for pictures)

Nottingham’s Lord Mayor Xmas Cheer Fund: 19November 2008 – NZCN delegation meets withCouncil representatives planning a Mayor Xmas Cheer Fund with a wish to set aside a portion of the proceeds for the alleviation of the cholera pandemic in Harare and as a gesture towards reviving the twinning of the two cities (Nottingham and Harare).

Shut the Arms Companies/Stop China &Mugabe Must Go: 29 November 2009 – A combined demo with Full Circle held outside Town House on very cold day of minus degrees. The turn out was a knock out and some of the placards displayed read: China Zimbabwe Needs Food not Guns/To save Zimbabwe, Mugabe Must Go!
(clickhere for pictures)

The Mayor’ Christmas Cheer Fund: 10 December 2008 – The event was successfully hosted and was attended by the Nottingham Lord Mayor Uczan . This was a highly publicized event. (clickhere for pictures)

NZCN’s Request to Meet the Leader of Council: 19 December 2008 – On behalf of NZCN committee, Regis Manyanya consulted the Nottingham City Council and requested a meeting with the Leader of Council John Collins. The request was granted and the date agreed was 3 February 2009. A date for party for Zimbabweans resident in Nottingham and their families was also agreed as 27 February 2009.

5 th Demo /Protest (2nd Combined London Demo): 13 January 2009 – NZCN staged a successful demo joint with Citizens for Sanctuary. On this ocassion Zimbabwean asylum seekers were demonstrating for the right to work.The demonstration took place at 10 Downing Street, London and NZCN was represented by quiet a substantial number of its members who travelled to the venue on a hired bus.
Click here to watch the video> http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y0e6s8_B4C

In Solidarity meeting with MDC Notts Branch/Executive & Fundraising:
SATURDAY, 24 January 2009 witnessed the much awaited above event at the Hyson Green Youth Club (behind ASDA). The historic event kicked off with delegates signing themselves into the venue at precisely 2.00pm.
Click here to watch the video> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leuR…

NZCN Delegation Meets the Leader of Council John Collins and his Team:
3rd February 2009 – Meeting coincided with the long impasse over the GNU in Harare, the speculations that Tsvangirai was going to be sworn in as Prime Minister a week later and also the cholera pandemic which had taken over a thousand lives in Zimbabwe.Main agenda: Twinning of Nottingham and Harare cities (How that twinning could be practically revived)
– see picture on the left side below.

Awareness of the Zimbabwean Situation: 14 February 2009 – This meeting was 3 days after Tsvangirai took oath as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. The event, highly publicized even in the Evening Post, despite the fact some of the speakers sent in apologies last minute, the event was a huge success and was graced by the following guest speakers:
James Barker (Director of Communications – Nottingham City Council),Yeukai Taruvinga (Human Rights Activist, London),Emma and Eva (Refugee Action),Don and Aur’elie (Anti-Deportation Team),Bill Walton (Refugee Forum),Mr Masawi (NZCN )
Apologies were received from the following:
James Ramoski (Immigration Lawyer) highly publicized
Stewart Brown (Refugee Co-ordinator)
Anna Beardsley (Charity Housing)
Doctor Mavaza (Immigration solicitor)
(clickhere for pictures)

LETTER HEAD (LOGO): The present letterhead (with Robin Hood statue and ZW flag) was introduced was done with effect from 23 February 2009.

Party for Zimbabweans resident in Nottingham hosted by Council: 27 February 2009 – Six (6) days after Mugabe’s 85 birthday bash this event comes as a consolation and occasion for the Zimbabwean Nottingham Community to assemble and reflect together with the Nottingham city fathers on the issues facing Zimbabwe and what practical help can be offered as a gesture or token towards reviving the twinning of the two cities Nottingham and Harare.
(clickhere for pictures)

As a charity which is run collectively by voluntary members our bank account is supplied below:
Barclays Bank: 03914968 Sort Code: 206325

| June 16, 2008 at 12:25 amLet it be clear that the sole purpose of this demonstration is to register our concern regarding the issue of forced removal or deportation of Zimbabweans irregardless of their immigration status, whatever, the outcome of the June 27 elections in Zimbabwe. Even though our life conditions as failed assylum seekers are a struggle – travelling far to sign regularly whilst not allowed to work and with no free access to the health delivery system is better compared to early removal to Zimbabwe. It is, therefore, our plea that Britain may employ a human face to the rehabilitation issue since most of us are casualities of Mugabe’s 28 years regime – left with no homes, no jobs, no hope. We believe Organisations such as Red Cross International, International Organisation for Migration, No Borders, and others do back our cause as well. On that note it is our humble request on humanitarian ground that we be given the choice to decide to settle and intergrate in the UK or grab a more realistic Voluntary Return package of not less than 15000 pounds as opposed to the present 3000 pounds. The thought of sudden return to the hell which Zimbabwe has been reduced to (a pariah state – no need to elaborate), is more than a nightmare. Mercy is what we are begging for so that we may not fulfil the adage, ‘from the frying pan into the fire’. Thank you.

This is a noble cause. Zimbabwe has already gone past the stage of being confused for a normal country. It has even surpassed the pariah status. It is simply a nation that is beyond repair at present therefore forced removals are just like simply rescuing a person from a frying pan and throwing them into the flame. Gordon Brown should go beyond rhetoric and stop forced removal. If he can call the reegime ‘a criminal and desperate regime’ then it does not make sense to deport people back to that country which is ruled by the criminals. We call upon Gordon to match his words with positive action

AGAIN as emphasised in our comment concerning the June 27 demonstration the objective remains unscathed by MDC president Tsvangirai’s decision to pull out of the election run-off. If not anything, our cause has become even more solidified by this new development.
Our CRY to Britain has even turned to GROANING this time, as the situation in Zimbabwe has become even more grotesque, frustrating and hope waning.
COME ONE, COME ALL. TOGETHER WE SHALL WIN.
Let us stand together as one and make the demo a resounding success and a true voice for the voiceless!!!

Prime Minister Gordon Brown cannot say it any better, that Mugabe was … ‘a criminal and a cabal’ and that Tsvangirai did the right thing by pulling out of the election run-off. We are positive that he (prime minister) shall take heed to our call in this Friday demo. and stop any forced removal of Zimbabweans despite their immigration status.

Mugabe abuses Zimbabweans because generally he knows them like a book that they are hardworking, resilient and peace-loving. Thats why he and his cronies boast that come what may, we can survive and even better with sanctions. They know they are printing money 24/7 and they can even hijack a national airline to pick their groceries from their Eastern friend countries.
In the light of the above demo may the powers that be, please allow Zimbabweans to work and fend for themselves and their families and relatives (the surviving ones) backhome who are being brutalised and killed daily by Mugabe,s thugs

The talks between Zanu pf and MDCare welcome by any peace loving citizen.Let us make one point straight that Mugabe must never be allowed to take a position that has influence in the running of Zimbabwe.He can remain an opposition leader for as long as he like.TSWANGIRAI ACHATONGA MADONGI ACHIKUMA. TSWANGIRAI to choose his own service chiefs from anew zimbabwe.Va mugabe kumana .

Dear Comrades I would like to first comment on the Talks with Zanu pf, we as MDC supporters rally behind the wise decision made by our President Morgan Tsvangirai not to legitimise Mugabe’s power struggle. It is well known that for one to be asked to head the government without an army in Africa is a joke, Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe open your eyes and see how this regime has caused since 1980 when the ruthless man came to power and I would want to quote one statement which our late old friend shared with me that in 1963 when late Chitepo came to address the masses at CJ hall in Highfields there was a down pour of rain, but when Mugabe came in 1980 at Zimbabwe Grounds it was very hot and people fainted and some died. My old friend said that was an indication of a heartless man.

Comrades we need to stand with our President Morgan Tsvangirai at this moment and would bring more suffering to the nation. This is why we are still happy to stay in these Outside Prison situations in Nottingham and the rest of UK.

What Mugabe is doing to the people of Zimbabwe its like genocide it is so sad for people to die while their President just looks on and ignores the situation.I feel it is high time for the world leaders to take action and remove this evil President our relatives a perishing while we look on.

I was so happy to have come across the good news of the new Zimbabwe human rights organisation. I did not know about its existence but am happy now. Do keep on doing the good work on Zimbabwe I have joined you in the group am now a member. May the Lord God Almighty help us Zimbabweans in the UK to come together and fight for a just cause.

As i, like many others appreciate the developments in zimbabwe but at the same time i know that MUGABE is still running the country and if he is a changed man he should have admitted to losing the elections.The TYRANT IS HERE TO STAY.WHAT A SHAME.

I think most us agree with James, As long as Mugabe is there Zimbabwe will never be free. MDC needs to be strong and come the elections they need to make sure they doing the right thing as we all know how Bob operate

Its high time the tables turned on this evil little man called Mugabe.For how long will he be allowed to take libertys and mistreat his own people!He seems to forget that they were the ones who voted him as president in the first place,its a shame he continuously fails to acknowledge that.Change is long overdue.Mugabe has to GO.

zanu nd ts leader mugabe have ruined the country,its time the pple of zimbabwe realise that we need change and the international community shld do more to help the desperate zimbabwean majority who want to change the gvt of zimbabwe,and put in place a responsible gvt that wld serve the interests of the zimbabwean pple.many pple have been displaced and many flee 4 their own safety.coz if ur country cnt offer protection to its citizens,its left 4 individuals to seek international protection.how sad